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June 2011
ToeToe
2010
Cortaderia richardii
WHAT IS IT?
A vigorous, large, long-lived grass
that forms dense tussocks
A potential major environmental
weed of peri-urban and coastal
bushland areas
The only New Zealand species of
Cortaderia to naturalise outside its
native area - recently introduced to
Tasmania, but not yet naturalised
on the Australian mainland
Also known as New Zealand
pampas grass, Richard’s pampas
grass, pampas grass, South Island
toi toi, toe toe grass, toitoi
Synonyms: Arundo richardii, Arundo
kakao, Gynerium zeelandicum. The
name Arundo australis has also
been misapplied to this grass.
Cortaderia richardii - © ( 2009) Paul
Ashford www.NZPlantPics.com
©(2009) Paul Ashford, www.NZplantpics.com
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM?
High risk potential to forestry
operations
Excludes native vegetation
Becomes a fire hazard
Harbours vermin
Rapidly colonises areas such as
roadsides, firebreaks, burnt sites
and quarries
Establishes itself in forests and
national parks
Clogs drains and chokes waterways
May make replanting pines difficult
What are State Alert Weeds?
These are invasive weeds that are not known to be in South Australia, or if present, occur in low numbers in a restricted area
and are still capable of being eradicated. An Alert Weed would pose a serious threat to the State’s primary industries, natural
environments or human health if it became established here. All Alert Weeds are declared under the Natural Resources
Management Act 2004: their transport and sale are prohibited (Sect. 175 and 177), plants must be destroyed (Sect. 182),
and if found on your land their presence must be notified to NRM authorities (Sect. 180) – refer overleaf.
DESCRIPTION
A dense tussock-forming, perennial grass up to 5 m in height when in flower,
bearing sparse, drooping light golden-yellow flower heads, and 2-3 m in height
when not in flower. There is a white waxy covering on the leaf base, and
distinctive secondary veins between the midrib and margin of the leaves. The
stalks do not snap readily and dead leaves droop, not forming spirals as with
pink pampas grass Cortaderia jubata.
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS
Database
HOW IT SPREADS
Spreads from seed and rhizomes (root segments), and is a prolific producer of
windborne seed, infesting areas within a 25 km radius. Ornamental plantings
are the source for infestations in Australia.
HABITAT
C. richardii ©(2009) Paul Ashford,
Found in humid, cool to warm-temperate regions, on open stream banks, open
shrublands or wet areas.
ORIGIN
Native to New Zealand, toetoe is found in the South Island and Stewart Island,
growing on open plains and the lower mountain slopes.
DISTRIBUTION IN AUSTRALIA
Current: As a more recent introduction, toetoe is presently naturalised in
western parts of Tasmania particularly coastal regions, and threatens World
Heritage areas in the south-western parts of the state, between Derwent Bridge
and the west coast.
Potential: Toetoe is a potential serious environmental weed in New South
Wales and Victoria. In South Australia it has potential to naturalise in the highest
rainfall parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges and the lower South-East.
DISTRIBUTION
HOW IT GOT HERE
Current distribution based on herbarium
records
Like other pampas species, toetoe was introduced as an ornamental plant, for
windbreaks, and in soil stabilisation practices.
Potential distribution based on climate
modelling
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Be on the alert for this plant using this Fact Sheet as a guide. If you see a
suspicious plant that may be this State Alert Weed, please report it to your local
Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board (contact details at
www.nrm.sa.gov.au). For more information on weeds, including Alerts, contact
your local NRM Board or visit either www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity (phone 08
8303 9620) or www.weeds.org.au.
Disclaimer: This publication is provided for the purpose of disseminating information relating to scientific and technical
matters. The Government of South Australia does not accept liability for any loss and/or damage, including financial
loss, resulting from the reliance upon any information, advice or recommendations contained in this publication. The
contents of this publication should not necessarily be taken to represent the views of the participating organisations.